"We'll do the formal opening later, and there's still some finish work to be done, but it will be open for use Friday," Mayor Mark Mathews said. "Weather has played a major part in pushing the project back, but we wanted to have it open specifically for the festival to make the area safer for people coming to the festival as they cross over the railroad tracks."
The festival, which is one of the city's biggest events each year, will begin with a parade at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Hundreds of vendors, including artists and craft experts, will be set up in the downtown area from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
In addition to vendors and artist booths, the festival will also feature live, local entertainment, including the Kennesaw Mountain Cloggers and martial arts demonstrations.
J.O. Stephenson Avenue at Cherokee Street will be closed from Dallas Street to Big Shanty beginning at 5 p.m. Friday for festival set up, said city spokeswoman Pam Davis. Main Street, between Moon Station and Watts Drive, will also be closed to vehicle traffic, as will Lewis Street.
The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Adams Park and continue down Main Street. Streets along the parade route will be closed from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.
The festival will also feature the city's second annual Military Appreciation Night at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Kennesaw Mountain High School. The highlight of the event will be a precision drill exhibition of the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Veterans and active duty military members will also be recognized, and the program will end with a fireworks display.
"I don't understand how they do it, but each year, the festival is bigger and better than the last," Mathews said. "The Military Appreciation Night will be great, and this year there are more vendors and things to do than ever before."
Parking will be available at the Ben Robertson Community Center off Watts Drive, Davis said.
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